My dad once noted that the way conservatives are about sex, liberals are about power (and by extension, money)---that is, it's dirty, it's base, it's impure, and a person's moral clarity and purity is gauged by their willingness and ability to renounce and transcend it.

I think Gene Simmons makes both sides of the spectrum delightfully uneasy, then .

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"Gentlemen, the verdict is guilty, on all ten counts of first-degree stupidity. The penalty phase will now begin."--Divine, "Pink Flamingos."

Totally agree with all the pro Gene stuff. The man is a marketing genius. I however only really like the song "Love Gun".

My cousin and I had a band called GIRTH. It was a thing I called porno rock and when we came out the MC would say "You wanted The widest, You got the widest. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you GIIIIIIRRRRTH!!!"

I read all these great posts, but the interview never came up in the first thread for me..

I’m not sure if they do. It's been several years since I've seen it. The last time I saw it, it was playing on the Sci-fi network (now called "Syfy"). I thought that I heard that Chiller (the horror network) might be playing it occasionally as well (I’m not sure what stations you have over there in Europe, so excuse me if you have no idea what I’m talking about).

I remember gravitating to the Demon when I was about seven years old. Gene was always my favorite in KISS. I have noted him recommending Friedrich Nietzsche and even comparing him self to the Übermensch. I thought his need to sue King Diamond over face paint was ridiculous but it got them both even more publicity. What a guy!

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ï¿½Love is one of the most intense feelings felt by man; another is hate. Forcing yourself to feel indiscriminate love is very unnatural. If you try to love everyone you only lessen your feelings for those who deserve your love. Repressed hatred can lead to many physical and emotional aliments. By learning to release your hatred towards those who deserve it, you cleanse yourself of these malignant emotions and need not take your pent-up hatred out on your loved ones.ï¿½ Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible

Great interview. I remember discussing Simmons' de facto qualities with our good Mr. Bickley several years ago.

Gene's sentiment reminds me of that espoused in Tool's song, Hooker With a Penis, particularly the lyrics in bold:

I met a boy wearing Vans, 501s, and a dope beastie-tee, nipple rings, and new tattoos that claimed that he was OGT, from '92, the first EP. and in between sips of coke he told me that he thought we were sellin' out, layin' down, suckin' up to the man. Well now I've got some advice for you, little buddy. Before you point the finger you should know that I'm the man, and if I'm the man, then you're the man, and he's the man as well so you can point that fuckin' finger up your ass. All you know about me is what I've sold you, Dumb fuck. I sold out long before you ever heard my name. I sold my soul to make a record, Dip shit, and you bought one. So I've got some Advice for you, little buddy. Before you point your finger You should know that I'm the man. If I'm the fuckin' man then you're the fuckin' man as well, So you can Point that fuckin' finger up your ass. All you know about me is what I've sold you, Dumb fuck. I sold out long before you ever heard my name. I sold my soul to make a record, Dip shit, And you bought one. All you read and Wear or see and Hear on TV Is a product Begging for your Fatass dirty Dollar So ... Shut up and Buy my new record Send more money Fuck you, buddy.

Flesh and Bones_______________“For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.” ~ Charles Bukowski

There are lots of other interviews with Simmons out there, but another notable one I think is his interview on NPR. It makes one wonder who exactly is interviewing who here. The YouTube comments are, as you can imagine, amusing in their ignorance. There's a lot of wonderful Satanic manipulation going on here, and people who dismiss Simmons as being simply "sexist" or "cold" will never get it.

Gene:As a woman, of course, you have the ability to sell your body, then get the money and with that get the food, but ultimately money is part of it.Interviewer:Did you hear? You are weird!Gene:Really? How do you get food?